College students
 

My commute takes me through a college campus and in the mornings I have to be extra careful. It seems that the students haven't figured out that the roads - and bike lanes - aren't for their personal use. They are for cars and bikes.
Every morning a couple of these geniuses steps off the curb, without looking to see if a car or bike is approaching. They are usually talking on their cell phone or dialing a number. Some days they are walking in the bike lane like it is the sidewalk. The sidewalk is ~2 feet to the right.

This morning I had a close call with a girl/woman/whatever dialing her phone. She stepped right in front of me. I had to swerve out into the lane (luckily there were no cars near me) to avoid hitting her. Maybe I should have hit her. :p At least she'd remember next time.

I guess these kids weren't paying attention when mom and dad told them to ALWAYS look before crossing the street.

Where I went to college, the townies referred to the students in this situation as the "sacred cows"...

Hint, no one cares about you anywhere near or on campus. The onus is on you to not hit them.

At the USC campus here in Los Angeles the kids all ride their beach cruisers the wrong way, but since most of them are cute blondes in shorts I've learned to just slow down and enjoy the view.

Uni and college kids are all like this they seem to have a protective invisible shield that surrounds them, or at least they think they do. They will step out in front of bikes, cars, or other pedestrians, completely oblivious to the world around them. They will not change, so it is indeed up to you to avoid them. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Just today the exact same thing happened to me. Right after the car that was passing me went by, this dumbass on a cell phone steps right into my path, as I was going about 20mph. Luckily, I saw it coing and yelled at her and probably badly disillusioned her towards cyclists, but at least she'll look for us now.

Try to bear in mind that all these young minds are in the midst of trying to come to terms with being an adult, learning broad new concepts, partying too late, and are on their own for the first time.

The campus seems like home to them... give 'em a bit extra room.

I have to agree with this assessment, as the girls at USC are very nice to look at. :D

Hey, I go to UTD! And this campus is completely dead. At certain hours, when the commuters are leaving, it can get busy.

With the temp over 80 degrees there are many more students riding these days. (Where were they in the 30 deg. rain over the winter? :)) I almost got hit a few times today by wrong way sidewalk riders. I can go days without seeing another bike helmet. I thought these kids were supposed to be educated?

just yell real loud... even a hungover moron on a cellphone takes notice when you yell 2 feet from their ear... ;) probably the only thing they'll learn tht day.

my vote for post of the week.

bk

What were you doing on the sidewalk?

And you haven't used their poor bicycling skills to your advantage in striking up a friendly conversation? ;)

http://store1.yimg.com/I/nycewheels_1836_35595123
Air Zound horn
The Air Zound bike horn emits a 120 decibel blast. The horn is handlebar mounted, and the air reservoir is attached to your water bottle cage. Easy recharging using either a bike pump or compressor. Each refill lasts for approximately fifty blasts.

This would get their attention. :D

http://store.nycewheels.com/air-zound-horn.html

Sweet. They should make a model with a smaller resevoir though, that thing is huge!

I've lived/worked on/near college campuses (UNC & Duke) for 13 years.
Dodging pedestrians goes with the territory.

I find that using bells or horns is futile.
You wind up startling the pedestrian, and more often than not -
they simply jump out front of you.

Best to have quick reflexes and expect the unexpected.

Intersections. You'll never catch me on a sidewalk.

I get this too, living in a college town. Man, how nice it would be to be young and clueless again...

They can be bad enough as pedestrians, but I think they're far worse (and more dangerous) when driving and talking on their cell phones.

Same thing on multi-use paths, so it isn't just college kids! On nice days, "amateur" outdoor people come out for their semi-annual walk, run, skate or bike ride. They do not know what they are doing. I just try to stay out of their way. It isn't easy!

I think the iPod may be one of the worst things now around college campuses. I call it the "iPod Fog". Everyone walking around, lost in their music. I just give a loud "Bike!" in their ear like max-a-mill, maybe it's just the rude Philly way.

There's something wrong with college students, I thought it was fairly obvious.

I mean you don't hear people at the hospital bragging about their health, do ya?

haha, I find this kinda funny. I am definitly one of the people who will walk out into the road in front of cars...after all pedestrians have the right of way, and people do stop for you...so why stop walking out into the road?

However, pedestrians are the reason that I never ride on the greenways around Raleigh, I always ride on the road whenever possible, and when I'm not on the road, I'm going <10 mph. Theres plenty of places to ride in Raleigh without resorting to bike paths.